We have taken in children into our orphanage who had both types of Malnutrition… Marasmus Malnutrition and Kwashiorkor Malnutrition. We also see both cases of these, coming to our Malnutrition Clinic at Love A Child.
Both Pistache and Jackson were found when we conducted Mobile Clinics in the mountains of Haiti. I’m sure you have seen the pictures of the little, skinny, bony babies who have come to our Mobile Clinics from time to time. That type of Malnutrition is called Marasmus.
Kwashiorkor, also called edematous malnutrition, is caused by a lack of protein in the diet. They have an abnormally, large, swollen belly, full of liquid. When you pick them up, they are “quite heavy!” Many times they remain stunted in their growth, this was the case with Jackson and Pistache. When we found Jackson in the mountains of Haiti, his belly was so huge and swollen and full of water, that “we could hardly lift him!”
Pistache and Jackson are both short and probably will not grow. I want to clarify a mistake I made in our last report on Jackson. I said that Jackson wasn’t growing as a result of “growth hormone pills.” That was what I “thought,” but I found out, that was not the case, and not because of the pills, nor to the fault of any medical personnel. Everyone has gone “beyond” their duty to give Jackson the best of care. The fact is, that he will not grow anymore. Pistache had different doctors but mostly, the boys had the same results… they did not grow to normal heights for their age.
Although Jackson is in Haiti, his best medical care came from the doctors in the Dominican Republic. They put him on a “very strict diet,” and he cannot deviate from it. When he eats, we have to take pictures of everything he eats and send them to the doctors in the Dominican Republic. He should be traveling back and forth for appointments, but they are not issuing Visas to enter the Dominican Republic, so we do the best we can. He is on medicines and each night, he is on dialysis until the morning, and a nurse has to be with him. Although he is sad, because he cannot play outdoor sports with the other children, he is content just to be with them. All the credit for his “being alive today” is the credit to the Dominican Republic doctors, and to Jesse Ostrander, who has made all this possible, and to Philemond, our wonderful driver, who has made many trips across the border with Jackson in the past. Pistache is in college, “hanging in there!” He too, is very short, but he has never been in the same condition as Jackson, who is much frailer.
Jackson’s problem is that he was just “worse off” than Pistache. Jackson has had more care, and much better care than Pistache, but Jackson was just in “far worse” condition. Pistache is in college in Haiti, “struggling,” but determined to pass.
Jackson doesn’t have to study, but he loves it! He is extremely intelligent and loves school, but he is in far worse physical condition. We want to thank all those wonderful doctors, nurses, and specialists who continually monitor Jackson from the Dominican Republic, the food he eats, and any reports on his daily health.
Special thanks to Jesse Ostrander, who has given the utmost, “hands-on,” help to Jackson. He remains to be “Jackson’s best friend!” But most of all, thanks to all the wonderful doctors in the Dominican Republic. We wish we could get Jackson across the border for a check-up, but right now, they are not allowing Haitians to enter. Thanks to all our friends who have prayed for Jackson… keep it up, and thanks to our donors, who have helped us financially, with this difficult case. Most of all, thanks to Jesus, who specializes in “things thought impossible!”
Sherry